Adjustable release lanyard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10501192-B2
Application number	US-201715641532-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2017
Priority date	Jul 5, 2017
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

A lanyard assembly for an evacuation system may comprise a lanyard body and a pin housing. The lanyard body may comprise an actuator connect portion, a pin housing connect portion, and a center member extending between the actuator connect portion and the pin housing connect portion. The pin housing may be slidably coupled to the pin housing connect portion of the lanyard body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lanyard assembly for an evacuation system, comprising:
a lanyard body comprising an actuator connect portion, a pin housing connect portion, and a center member extending between the actuator connect portion and the pin housing connect portion; and
a pin housing slidably coupled to the pin housing connect portion of the lanyard body, the pin housing defining a first opening configured to receive the pin housing connect portion of the lanyard body, the pin housing including a pin end located opposite the first opening,
wherein the pin housing defines a chamber extending from the first opening of the pin housing to a second opening defined by the pin housing,
wherein the second opening is located between the pin end of the pin housing and the first opening of the pin housing, and
wherein the pin housing is configured such that as the pin housing slides towards the center member, the pin housing connect portion slides out the second opening to decrease a length of the lanyard assembly.

2. The lanyard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pin housing connect portion comprises a plurality of teeth.

3. The lanyard assembly of claim 2 , wherein the pin housing comprises a pawl configured to engage the plurality of teeth.

4. The lanyard assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pin located in the pin end of the pin housing.

5. The lanyard assembly of claim 4 , wherein the pin comprises a metal.

6. The lanyard assembly of claim 5 , wherein the pin housing comprises a plastic.

7. The lanyard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator connect portion is threaded.

8. The lanyard assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator connect portion comprises a disrupted thread.

9. The lanyard assembly of claim 1 , wherein an end of the center member proximate the actuator connect portion comprises a first flat surface and a second flat surface opposite the first flat surface.

10. An evacuation system, comprising:
an inflatable slide;
a soft cover containing the inflatable slide;
a lace holding the soft cover closed;
an actuator; and
a lanyard assembly coupled to the actuator, the lanyard assembly comprising:
a lanyard body comprising an actuator connect portion, wherein in the actuator connect portion is coupled to a piston of the actuator, and
a pin housing slidably coupled to the lanyard body and configured to retain the lace.

11. The evacuation system of claim 10 , wherein the actuator is configured to release the lace by translating the lanyard assembly.

12. The evacuation system of claim 10 , wherein the lace comprises a daisy chain configuration.

13. The evacuation system of claim 12 , wherein the pin housing is located in a key loop of the daisy chain configuration.

14. The evacuation system of claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises a pneumatic actuator.

15. The evacuation system of claim 14 , further comprising a charged tank fluidly coupled to the pneumatic actuator.

16. The evacuation system of claim 10 , wherein the lanyard body comprises a serrated portion including a plurality of teeth.

17. The evacuation system of claim 16 , wherein the pin housing comprises a pawl configured to engage the plurality of teeth.

18. The evacuation system of claim 10 , wherein the actuator connect portion of the lanyard body comprises a disrupted thread.

19. A method of making an evacuation assembly, comprising:
disposing a soft cover over an inflatable slide;
configuring a lace to close the soft cover;
coupling a lanyard assembly to an actuator, the lanyard assembly comprising:
a lanyard body including an actuator connect portion configured to engage a piston of the actuator, and
a pin housing slidably coupled to the lanyard body; and

locating the pin housing of the lanyard assembly in a key loop of the lace.

20. The method of claim 19 , further including adjusting a length of the lanyard assembly by sliding the pin housing along a portion of the lanyard body.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Schmidt Ryan
• Hessling Von Heimendahl Andre

Classifications

• F16K27/02

  of lift valves (for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06) · CPC title

• F16G11/10

  Quick-acting fastenings; Clamps holding in one direction only · CPC title

• B64D25/14 Primary

  Inflatable escape chutes · CPC title

• F16G11/106 Primary

  using a toothed surface · CPC title